1994-03-15_REVISION - M1977347 - Laserfiche WebLink

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19 III. MAJOR CONCERNS AND IS iF 1. The quarry is located in a remote area, with no residential developm7;nt or 40 acre lots ncazby. The only land uses in the area are cattle ranches. It's d7>ubtful the actual mining activity would be objectionable to any area property owners. 2. The major conccm of the Planning Depatment relates to the proposed reclamation strategy. The mining results in a large expanse of exposed tuck slat, and virtually no topsoil to serve as a base for reseeding. The applicant proposes :~ new approach, as described on pages _2Z-2!>_ and illustrated on page ~ ~ Holnam proposes to install "tree islands" as a means of interrupting the increased runoff, and also to provide a visual screen of some of the tack slab. Additionally, the loadout benches (working areas established during removal of lirnestone) would be seeded with grasses and mountain mahogany. Stone bern-7 filters would also be used to control runoff. Staff is concerned about the following: • Ponderosa pine seedlings proposed for the tree islands would provide little visual relief for many yeazs. • This reclamation technique has apparently never been utilized before, and therefore is considered experimental. • Approval is requested for five phases, but the reclamation plan covers only Phases 1, 2, and 3. • The amount of tree pads is not known; they will be less-utilized in areas where sand overburden allows usage of loadout benches. • Reclamation will not begin for about two years, when there will be. as much as 35 acres disturbed by mining. If the plan does not work, there is no "backup" plan for reclamation. Holnam does state they are committed to "changing its plan if it happens that these techniques do not work in the first sequenti;rl areas of reclamation". The final reclamation plan is subject to the approval of the Colorado :Division of Minerals and Geology, which evaluates the adequacy of the plan in t:he areas of drainage, wildlife, vegetation, erosion, surface and subsurface water resources, and soils. The areas of visual impact, compatibility with other land uses, and traffic impacts aze not addressed by the State permitting process. Lorimer County Health Department states that Holnam has the approlrriate State Emissions Permit to conduct the operation as proposed. Lorimer County Engineering comments on the road impacts and drainage on pages 29 b 30 Colorado Division of Wildlife comments are on page 31 7. The Soil Conservation service has made rewmmendations on revegetation of the disturbed areas. I PLA N NG STA F REPORT BCC 1/10/94 I sue.tt:cT QUARRY SPECIAL F'.EVIEW J LCPZ - 32 (70/661